Means for the take-down of a firearm



July 2, 1957 Filed April 16. 1954 H. L. PAGETT MEANS FOR THE TAKE-DOWN OF A FIREARM 5 She'ets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HAR YLPAGETT TTORNEY;

y 1957 H. L. PAGETT 2,797,515

MEANS FOR THE TAKE-DOWN OF A FIREARM Filed April is, 1954 I I v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HAERYhPAGETT g: BY Q ATTORNEY; Q

y 1957 H. L. PAGETT 2,797,515

MEANS FOR THE TAKE-DOWN OF A FIREARM Filed A ril 16, 1954' 3 Sheets-Sheet s w whk A T TOENEYS United States Patent MEANS FOR THE TAKE-DOWN or A FIREARM Harry L. Pagett, Ithaca, N. Y., assignor to Ithaca Gun Company, Incorporated Application April 16, 1954, Serial No. 423,648

13 Claims. (CI. 42-75) This invention relates to a means for the take-down of a firearm and, more particularly, to an improved method and means for assembling and disassembling a firearm of the automatic and semi-automatic type.

Heretofore, when the user of a semi-automatic firearm, such as a shot gun, desires to disassemble or take down his firearm, it is necessary for him to keep one hand on the barrel to avoid accidents when the barrel holding means is loosened in the act of disconnecting the barrel from the receiver portion of the gun ($11166 there is a tendency of the barrel to jump forward and he may be injured because the recoil spring around the magazine tube forces the barrel outwardly of the receiver. Such procedure is inconvenient and cumbersome to the owner of the gun.

With the above disadvantages in view, it is an object of my invention to provide a firearm which can be easily and readily assembled and disassembled without application of undue force or pressure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of and means for convenient assembly and disassembly of a gun of the automatic or semi-automatic type without danger of injury to the person assembling or disassembling such gun.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel combination of parts in a shot gun of the automatic or semi-automatic type to facilitate convenient assembly or disassembly of the gun with a minimum of effort or hazard.

Other objects and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form part of my invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a cross section through the center of a shot gun of the semi-automatic type and forming a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 show successively different stages in the take-down method of the gun in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed longitudinal, sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.

' Referring now more specifically to the drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout, it will be noted that, as in Fig. 1, I show a gun 10 of the semi-automatic type. It is to be noted that my invention may be readily applied to any type gun such as the Browning mechanism, as disclosed in certain Browning patents notably Browning U. S. Patent No. 659,507, dated October 9, 1900.

In the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that gun 10 comprises three general parts characteristic of the commonly known type of semi-automatic shot gun. In addition to the stock 11 with its spring action tube and retainer action tube spring assembly 12, there is also provided, extending forwardly of said stock 11, a receiver assembly 13 with the various component parts characteristic of the conventional type of gun. In the forward part of said receiver assembly 13, there is pro- "Ice means of the forwardly extending portion 23 of the receiver assembly 13 and the downwardly extending lug 24 of said barrel 20, which lug is disposed at the forward part of the barrel. Said magazine tube 22 is provided with a spring, not shown, inside of the tube for automatically forcing shells that may be contained in said tube rearwardly into the lower part of said receiver to be picked up by carrier 25 and forced upwardly toward the shell chamber 26 of the gun barrel while the breech block 14 is in the rear position in the receiver. Said magazine tube, furthermore, is provided with a recoil spring 27, one end of which normally presses against receiver end 23 and at the other end against lug 24.

In said breech or sliding block 14, said locking block 16 has an upwardly extending portion 28 adapted to fit into an opening 29 in the upper and rear portion of said barrel extension 21, which locks the barrel extension 21 to the bolt 15 whereas the barrel, barrel extension, locking block and bolt are forced forward by the recoil spring 27 and the action spring 39. Further forward movement of the barrel can be obtained only by first loosening the magazine cap 38 and then manually moving the operating slide 18 rearward, thereby causing the locking block to pivot downward thereby releasing the barrel extension. In said breech block 15, there is also provided a locking block latch 30 which, with the forward part of the receiver 23 extending against the rear end of the forearm 40, and the forward part of the barrel extension 21 contacting the rearmost portion of the forearm 40, normally forms a space 31 therebetween when cap 38 is tightened in place. A space 20, equal to or greater than at 31, is in evidence between the forward part of the operating slide 18 and the forward part of the ejection of the receiver part 13.

Said locking block latch 30, as shown, is a lever mounted on a pivot 32 extending through said breech block 14 and has a long portion 33 extending rearwardly of the pivot for operable contact with actuating member 34 of the action link assembly. Said latch 30 is also provided with a forward shorter portion or tong 35 extending toward the abutting rear face 36 of the forward part or end 23 of receiver assembly 13, as shown. A tension spring 37, housed in said block 15, is provided for normally forcing said forward shorter portion downwardly toward the magazine tube 22. As noted, the shorter portion has a cut-out part adapted to act as a shell stop or latching lever and the tong or extension 35 to abut against the face part 36 of said receiver and arrest the further outward movement of the barrel in the receiver.

It will be noted, according to Figs. 1 and 2, that the gun has such space 31 between the locking block latch and the inner face of the receiver that, when the magazine cap 38 is removed, said latch tong forms contact with the receiver end, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, land 5, but under no circumstances will there be contact between the forward end of the operating slide 18 and the forward part of the ejection part on the receiver. Previous to the removal of the magazine cap 38, the contact is between 24 and 40; after removal of 38, the contact is between 35 and 36.

In the operation of my invention, as hereinabove described, for taking down the gun, as shown by the remaining figures in the drawings, the forearm magazine cap 38 is loosened or removed from the threaded end 39 of the magazine tube 22. Because of the removal of this cap, the locking block latch 30 has now moved forward under pressure from the action spring 39' and from the recoil spring 27 so that the latch now contacts the inner face of the receiver. This forward movement of the loclo ing block latch is slight in contrast to the type of movement in presently used types of guns. It will be noted also that there is no further movement of the gun barrel at this position. In order to utilize this take down feature, the bolt should be in its extreme forward position. After the cap has been removed, the forearm piece 40 is then removed with the result that the parts of the gun will appear as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing wherein the latch. forms contact with receiver piece at 36, the barrel 20 has moved forward but the locking block lug 28 prevents further forward movement of the barrel until the operating slide 18 is manually moved rearwardly in the breech block. The locking block then drops downwardly into the central recess 41 of the breech block. The barrel extension will then move forwardly, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This is efiected by a slight rearward motion of the operating slide, shown in Fig. 6, to release the locking block from engagement with the barrel extension thereby permitting the barrel to be removed from the assembly and to be held in the hand of the person disassembling the gun. In other words, it will be noted that no application of excessive force or pressure is needed to keep the gun barrel in position while the locking block is engaged with the barrel extension.

In Fig. 5, it will be noted that, apart from the receiver assembly 13, the magazine cap 38, forearm 40, and barrel 20 have been removed. The locking latch 30, in the meantime, due to the action of spring 37 in the breech block, has returned to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, which position is caused by pressure from the action spring 39'. When said cap 38 is loosened or removed from magazine tube 22, the space 31 disappears and, due to the action of spring 27 and action spring 39', the barrel 20, extension 21 and forearm piece 40 are thrust forward forming space 31 between receiver forward piece 23 and forearm 40.

It will be noted that the method of disassembling has been described. However, in order to assemble the parts of the gun, the reverse of the above described order is followed thus readily permitting the gun assembly without requiring excessive force or pressure while, at the same time, eliminating any hazards due to the compression spring and the action spring in the rear part of the gun.

From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that my invention can be used in any automatic or semiautomatic shot gun. It will be noted that, in the assembly, the barrel extension is inserted into the receiver and is pressed downwardly into the receiver and is locked there, thus eliminating further necessity of holding the barrel against the action of the spring 27. In the average type of lock bolt assembly, there is only a certain amount of space provided for the operating slide thus allowing the operating slide to contact the receiver, thereby forcing the locking block out of engagement with the barrel extension and. consequently allowing the barrel extension to move forward freely whenever the arresting member, the magazine cap or screw is not in place, as compared Withthe presently described invention. However, in my invention, more clearance is provided in the receiver so that the operating slide does not come in contact with the front portion of the ejection part of the receiver. In addition, I have provided more clearance for the operating slide in the block in the receiver thus allowing for better removal of the barrel and barrel extension. The locking block latch, under such conditions, makes. contact during the take down, or assembly 4 with the receiver end to prevent undue forward movement of the barrel extension and also to permit the locking block to be disengaged from the barrel extensiononly by a manual act. In the case where the forearm piece is removed, the barrel and barrel extensions are still locked until they are released by the manual movement of the operating slide which causes the locking block to pivot out of engagement with the barrel extension.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that modifications as to form, arrangement of parts and use of materials may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed;

I claim:

1. In a firearm having a receiver formed with a rearwardly facing abutment face, a barrel, a barrel extension and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breech closing mechanism being slidable in said re-' ceiver, guide means parallel with said barrel firmly attached to the receiver, a guide lug on said barrel embracing said guide means, abutment means on said guide means normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a latch carried by the breech closing mechanism and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said latch serving to limit forward movement of the breech closing mechanism when the said abutment means is removed.

2. In a firearm having a receiver formed with a rearwardly facing abutment face, a barrel, a barrel extension and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breech closing mechanism being slidable in said receiver, fixed guide means parallel to said barrel attached to the receiver, guide means on the barrel embracing said fixed guide means, coiled spring abutment means on said fixed second named guide means normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a latch carried by the breech closing mechanism and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said la'tch serving to limit forward movement of the breech closing mechanism when the said abutment means is removed.

3. In a firearm having a receiver, a rearwardly facing abutment face on said receiver, a barrel, a barrel extension, and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breech closing mechanism being slidable in said receiver, guide means co-extending with and parallel with said barrel firmly attached to the receiver, a guide lug on said barrel for said guide means, abutment means on said guide means normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a pivotal latch carried by the breech closing mechanism and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said latch serving to limit forward movement of the breech closing mechanism when the said abutment means is removed.

4. In a firearm having a receiver formed with a rearwardly facing abutment face, a barrel, a barrel extension and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breechclosing mechanism being slidable in said receiver, a magazine tube parallel to said barrel firmly attached to the receiver, a guide lug on said barrel embracing said magazine tube, a barrel return spring surrounding said magazine tube acting between said receiver and said barrel lug, abutment means on said magazine tube normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a latch carried by the breech closing mechanism and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said latch serving to limit forward movement of the breech closing mechanism when the said abutment means is removed.

5'. In a firearm having a receiver, said receiver having a rearwardly facing abutment face, a barrel, a barrel'extension and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breech closing mechanism being slidable in said receiver, a magazine tube parallel with said barrel firmly attached to the receiver, a guide lug depending from said barrel embracing said magazine tube, a tensioned spring surrounding said magazine tube acting between said receiver and said barrel lug, abutment means on said magazine tube normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a pivotal latch carried by the breech closing mechanism and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said latch serving to limit forward movement of the breech closing mechanism when the said abutment means is removed.

6. In a firearm having a receiver formed with a rearwardly facing abutment face, a barrel, a barrel extension and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breech closing mechanism being slidable in said receiver, a magazine tube parallel to said barrel firmly attached to the receiver, a guide lug on said barrel embracing said magazine tube, a barrel return spring surrounding said magazine tube acting between said receiver and said barrel lug, abutment means on said magazine tube normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a latch carried on the under portion of the breech closing mechanism and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said latch serving to limit forward movement of the breech closing mechanism when the said abutment means is removed.

7. In a firearm having a receiver formed with a rearwardly facing abutment face, a barrel, a barrel extension and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breech closing mechanism being slidable in said receiver, a magazine tube parallel to said barrel firmly attached to the receiver, a guide lug on said barrel embracing said magazine tube, a barrel return spring surrounding said magazine tube acting between said receiver and said barrel lug, removable means on said magazine tube normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a latch carried by the breech closing mechanism and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said latch serving to limit forward movement of the breech closing mechanism when the said removable cap is removed.

8. In a firearm having a receiver formed with a rearwardly facing abutment face, a. barrel, a barrel extension and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breech closing mechanism being slidable in said receiver, a magazine tube parallel with said barrel attached to the receiver, a guide lug depending from said barrel embracing said magazine tube, a barrel return spring surrounding said magazine tube acting between said receiver and said barrel lug, a forearm piece enclosing said return spring forming end to end contact with said abutment face, a removable cap on said magazine tube normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a spring pivoted latch carried by the breech closing mechanism and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said latch having a tong serving to limit forward movement of the breech closing mechanism when the said removable cap is removed.

9. In a firearm having a receiver formed with a rearwardly facing abutment face, a barrel, a barrel extension and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breech closing mechanism being slidable in said receiver, guide means parallel to said barrel firmly attached to the receiver, a guide lug on said barrel embracing said guide means, abutment means on said guide means normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a latch movable with the breech closing mechanism and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said latch serving to limit forward movement of the barrel when the said abutment means is removed.

10. In a firearm having a receiver formed with a rearwardly facing abutment face, a barrel, a barrel extension and a breech closing mechanism, said barrel, extension and breech closing mechanism being slidable in said receiver, guide means parallel to said barrel firmly attached to the receiver, a guide lug on said barrel embracing said guide means, abutment means on said guide means normally serving to limit forward movement of said barrel, the combination of a tensioned pivotal latch movable with the barrel when the breech block is locked to the barrel extension and the barrel extension when the same move rearwardly into receiver and normally spaced from said abutment face on the receiver, said latch having forwardly extending means serving to limit forward movement of the barrel when the said abutment means is removed.

11. The combination for taking down a shot gun of the automatic and semi-automatic type comprising a spring action assembly, a breech block assembly in connection with and operable by said action assembly, said breech block assembly having a locking block, an operating slide and a locking block latch, a magazine tube, a barrel with a barrel extension having an opening therein adapted to engage with the locking block, tension means adapted to cooperate with the spring action assembly to bring the barrel forward beyond its normal extension when the locking block is disengaged from the barrel extension, a forearm piece around said magazine tube, and cap means for said magazine tube to keep said forearm piece on said tube and against one end of said receiver, said locking block latch limiting the forward movement of the barrel and barrel extension when said cap means is removed.

12. The combination for assembling and disassembling a gun of the type described comprising a receiver, a breech block slidable in the receiver, a spring action assembly for said block, a locking block in said breech block, a barrel, an extension on said barrel adapted to enter said receiver and engageable by said locking block to form abutting contact at the opening of the extension with the barrel extension, a locking block latch on said breech block, said latch forming contact with the inner face of the receiver, and means for normally forcing the barrel forwardly of the gun.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein the latch carried by the breech block is pivotally mounted thereon and has spring means for normally depressing the forward end thereof for limiting the forward movement of the breech block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,468 Hartigan Apr. 4, 1916 1,931,262 Loomis Oct. 17, 1933 2,229,390 Roemer Ian. 21, 1941 2,465,196 Browning Mar. 22. 1949 

